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An in-depth review of the Orange Travel eSIM – the simple, fuss-free way to get online when you travel!
Sad though it is to admit, I often say that I couldn’t travel without my smartphone. And it’s true: fast, reliable internet access makes travel so much easier (especially as a solo female traveller).
From using maps and translating train station signs to calling an Uber or sharing my location if I’m concerned about safety, I need data when I’m away. Most carriers have high roaming charges for using your data overseas, so to avoid them, I buy an eSIM.
I’ve tried a few different brands over the years, but I never realised that Orange also offer eSIMS. So when they got in touch to ask me to try out their range of travel eSIMs, I was all ears!
Orange Travel offers eSIMs for over 100 countries, plus a Regional Europe Plan (for 30 European countries) and a World Plan (which covers over 70 destinations). After some thorough testing and comparison, here’s my review…
Disclaimer: This review was written in collaboration with Orange Travel, but I thoroughly tested the eSIM and their app myself, and this is my honest opinion.
What is an eSIM and How Does it Work?
An eSIM (“embedded SIM”) is essentially a digital SIM card which can be installed directly onto your phone, either alongside or instead of a physical SIM card. You can purchase a data plan for the country/countries you’re visiting and install it on your phone. It saves a lot of time, complication, and faff!
Pros and Cons of Using eSIM
PROS
- Cheaper than using your own data abroad.
- Easy to install and use.
- Can be used alongside your existing SIM (so you’ll still get texts on your normal number, handy for things like bank alerts).
- Order online and set up yourself – no need to visit a shop when you arrive at your destination.
CONS
- Can be more expensive than buying a local SIM card.
- You won’t get a local phone number.
- You can’t make calls or texts from most eSIMs.
- Not all phones are eSIM compatible (so make sure you check first).
How I Tested the Orange Travel eSIM
I’ve been using eSIMs for years and absolutely swear by them – I’ve used them all over the world and have tried 5 or 6 different brands. So I know what I’m looking for in terms of prices, ease of use, and app experience!
To test out Orange Travel, I purchased a 30-day United Kingdom eSIM with unlimited data and tested it out during my recent trip to the Cotswolds. Since I live in the UK and already have my own phone plan here, this meant I was also able to compare the internet speed and signal coverage against my normal UK network.
Orange Travel eSIM Review
Purchase & Setup Experience
Orange Travel’s website is very user-friendly and simple! You can search for a specific destination or browse alphabetically. There’s not much else on the site, so it’s incredibly easy to choose and buy your eSIM.
Once you’ve found your destination, you just need to choose which SIM package is right for you: there are usually a few different options for different numbers of days and amounts of data. For example, the UK eSIM ranges from a 5GB package costing £7.99 to 100GB for £41.99.
Simply select the package you want, add it to the basket, and check out. You can always top up later if you run out of data.
Now, setting up an eSIM can be a little complicated the first time you try it (but that’s the case regardless of who you buy from)! Orange Travel made it as easy as possible: they sent an email with the QR code and a PDF booklet of instructions. You can also install it via the Orange Travel app, which would be even easier. Unfortunately, the app installation didn’t work on my phone fo some reason (Google Pixel 8 Pro), so I did it manually – but it was still very straightforward.
Road Testing the eSIM: Real-World Performance
I’ve been trialling my Orange Travel eSIM for over two weeks now: including on a recent minibreak in Cotswolds and a weekend trip to Southampton. I’ve been more than happy with the coverage so far.
The eSIM is running off the EE network, and the signal is often better than my normal UK provider (Three)! I was particularly impressed with the signal in the rural Cotswolds, as mobile networks are often very patchy there.
To be perfectly honest, I don’t really understand the technical stuff when it comes to coverage and internet speeds. But, as an “everyday” user, I can confirm the eSIM has been working great. Google Maps, WhatsApp, and internet searches all run quickly. I didn’t notice any difference in speed when uploading Instagram stories, and I’ve streamed Netflix and Spotify without issues.
One thing I didn’t like was that you can’t seem to track your data usage in the app. When I logged into the app to manage my eSIM, I could see the SIM listed, but there was no information showing. Instead, I had to log in to the website to see how much data was remaining. It’s only a minor grievance (because I can see how much data I’m using via my phone’s settings instead), but it would help improve the overall experience.
Are Orange Travel’s Prices Good?
Using any eSIM is likely to work out cheaper than facing your own carrier’s roaming charges, which are often £5 or more per day. And Orange Travel have some pretty competitive prices.
Within Europe, Orange Travel usually work out cheaper than many other eSIM companies – particularly for the smaller data packages. In Asia, the prices were less competitive (and often a bit higher), but for the UK, USA, and Europe, Orange Travel are likely to be the cheapest option.
I pulled a few random examples into the table below, comparing Orange Travel’s prices with two of their main competitors.
| Orange Travel | Competitor 1 | Competitor 2 | |
| UK 5GB, 30 days | £7.99 | £12.50 | £11.12 |
| Spain 5GB, 30 days | £7.99 | £9.50 | £11.12 |
| Japan | £10.99 2GB, 30 days | £5.50 2GB, 15 days | £6.35 3GB, 30 days |
| India 10GB, 14 days | £20.99 | £20.50 | £19.06 |
| USA 5GB, 30 days | £10.99 | £13.50 | £10.32 |
| Europe 5GB, 30 days | £10.99 30 countries | £16.50 42 countries | £11.12 35 countries |
On the whole, if you know you won’t need much more than 5 – 10 GB of data, Orange Travel may be the cheapest option. For larger packages and for destinations in Asia, there may be cheaper alternatives out there. Shop around and compare a few different providers to find the best price.
Quick Summary and Final Thoughts
Orange Travel’s eSIM packages are a great choice for an affordable and hassle-free way to get online when you travel. Here’s a quick summary of the pros:
- Wide choice of data plans – for total flexibility and freedom, so you can buy exactly what you need. You can also top up if you run out.
- In the UK, USA, and Europe, prices are generally better than other major eSIM providers.
- For larger data packages and destinations in Asia, this may not be the case.
- Fast, reliable coverage – I was surprised to find I still had signal in rural England!
- User-friendly website and app.
- Unfortunately, you can’t seem to track data usage in the app – but you can log in to the website to see how much you’ve used.
- Fairly easy to install (as eSIMs go!)
CLICK HERE to search all destinations on Orange Travel and see how much an eSIM would cost for your next trip.
I hope you found this review of the Orange Travel eSIM helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.
